St Margaret of Antioch, Barley

St Mary Magdalene, Barkway

Welcome to the United Benefice of Barkway, Barley, Reed and Buckland. Our service times can be seen by clicking the tab at the top of this page.

Our benefice is committed to safeguarding all our children and vulnerable adults providing consistent policies and practice. Please click https://www.stalbans.anglican.org/diocese/safeguarding/ The PCCs of the churches in the United Benefice of Barkway, Barley, Reed and Buckland have also adopted the House of Bishops “Promoting a Safer Church; safeguarding policy statement”. The Church of England’s Parish Safeguarding handbook is also available from the Church of England website so please click on https://www.churchofengland.org/

For any further information please click on the Safeguarding details button under Categories to the right of this screen OR contact one of the Churchwardens.

Reverend Mark Bridgen became our Rector in May 2024 and we ask you to please remember Mark, Karen (his wife) and their family in your prayers.

All our churches are open for private prayer and for Sunday worship with details available by clicking the appropriate tab at the top of your screen. We send out details every week of these services, so please contact Liz Kershaw at [email protected] receive these details. We seek to worship God and discover ways to live out our faith in our communities and beyond, in word and action, through loving God and loving our neighbour.

We offer you, your family and friends a warm welcome to worship with us or to attend any of our social events. Whether you live in these villages or further afield you are welcome. All of our villages are vibrant communities with many activities and groups and the churches are central to each.

Our small rural benefice in North East Hertfordshire, covers an area which includes Barkway, Barley, Reed, Buckland, Chipping, Nuthampstead and Newsells. Our nearest towns are Royston and Buntingford, but Cambridge is also within easy reach. Buckland Church, in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, is a beautiful church where we hold occasional services.

Reed St Mary

St Mary’s Church, Reed is a beautiful little church with a spiritual and peaceful atmosphere and its services are in the main quiet and prayerful and for many it is a very special haven.

The Church, parts of which are of late Saxon period, although not having a huge congregation, is nonetheless much loved. This is not only reflected in the recently formed Friends of Reed Church (a registered charity), but in the many people who give freely of their time to support the Church in myriad and sundry ways.

Full details of services and other details are on our Benefice web site: https://unitedbenefice.wordpress.com/

The parish of Reed and Buckland is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and adults. We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and have our own Parish Safeguarding Officer(s), PSOs. The Diocese of St.Albans’s safeguarding pages contain vital links and information including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor (DSA) who advise our PSOs. If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm please contact the DSA. If you have immediate concerns about the safety of someone, please contact the police and your local authority Children or Adults Services.